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Addiction Is a Choice

Author

Jeffrey A. Schaler, Ph.D.

Publication Date

2000

Summary

As the title suggests, this book addresses the theory that people can't control what they do, they shouldn't be held responsible for their actions, and they can excuse practically anything by claiming to be a victim. Though Schaler occasionally compromises his argument by overstatement and paradoxes, most of the book relies on empirical evidence and consistent logic to place responsibility for excessive drug-taking on the individual drug-user.

Schaler offers a number of findings. Among them:
  • the best way to overcome addiction is to rely on your own willpower;
  • drug addiction is often a way of life people rely on to cope with, or avoid coping with, the world;
  • people can stop depending on drugs or alcohol as they develop other ways to deal with life;
  • addiction has more to do with environments people live in than with the drugs they are addicted to;
  • people often outgrow drug and alcohol addiction;
  • alcoholics and drug addicts can learn to moderate their drinking or cut down on their drug use;
  • drug addicts and alcoholics can and often do find their own ways out of their addictions, without outside help.
Click here for more information and to purchase this publication.

Number of Pages

146

Contact

Jeffrey A. Schaler, Ph.D.

Source

Journal of Health Communication, Volume 8, pp. 295-296, 2003.


Placed on the Communication Initiative site January 10 2006
Last Updated July 27 2007

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